SCENE VIII.-A Field of Battle between the Roman and the Volcian Camps. Alarum. Enter MARCIUS and AUFIDIUS. Mar. I'll fight with none but thee; for I do hate thee Worse than a promise-breaker. Auf. We hate alike; Not Afric owns a serpent I abhor More than thy fame, and envy: Fix thy foot. If I fly, Marcius, Within these three hours, Tullus, Alone I fought in your Corioli walls, And made what work I pleas'd; "T is not my blood Wherein thou seest me mask'd: for thy revenge Wrench up thy power to the highest. Wert thou the Hector Auf. [They fight, and certain Volces come to the Officious, and not valiant-you have sham'd me Alarum. [Exeunt fighting, driven in by MARCIUS. SCENE IX.-The Roman Camp. A retreat is sounded. Flourish. Enter at one side, COMINIUS, and Romans; at the other side, MARCIUS, with his arm in a scarf, and other Romans. Com. If I should tell thee o'er this thy day's work, Thou 'It not believe thy deeds: but I'll report it Where senators shall mingle tears with smiles; Where great patricians shall attend, and shrug, Yet cam'st thou to a morsel of this feast, Having fully din'd before. Enter TITUS LARTIUS, with his power, from the pursuit, Lart. O general, Here is the steed, we the caparison : Hadst thou beheld Mar. Pray now, no more: my mother, Who has a charter to extol her blood, As I have done, you have done that's what I can; induc'd As you have been; that 's for my country: He that has but effected his good will Hath overta'en mine act. You shall not be Com. What you have done,) before our army hear me. Mar. I have some wounds upon me, and they smart To hear themselves remember'd. Com. Should they not, Well might they fester 'gainst ingratitude, And tent themselves with death. Of all the horses, (Whereof we have ta'en good, and good store,) of all The treasure, in this field achiev'd, and city, We render you the tenth; to be ta'en forth, VOL. X. с Before the common distribution, They all cry, Marcius! Mar. May these same instruments, which you profane, Never sound more, when drums and trumpets shall Let them be made an overture for the wars!a In acclamations hyperbolical: As if I lov'd my little should be dieted a We here venture to make an important change in the generally received reading of this passage. It is invariably printed thus: "May these same instruments, which you profane, Never sound more! When drums and trumpets shall I' the field prove flatterers, let courts and cities be Made all of false-fac'd soothing! When steel grows Soft as the parasite's silk, let him be made An overture for the wars !" The commentators have long notes of explanation; and they leave the matter more involved than they found it. The slight change we have made gives a perfectly clear meaning. Opposed as we are to editorial licence, we hold ourselves keeping within due bounds in substituting where for when, and them for him; for there are several instances of these words having been misprinted in the original copies. Com. : Too modest are you; With all the applause and clamour of the host, Bear the addition nobly ever! [Flourish. Trumpets sound, and drums. All. Caius Marcius Coriolanus ! Cor. I will go wash; And when my face is fair, you shall perceive To the fairness of my power. Com. So, to our tent: To Rome of our success.-You, Titus Lartius, Lart. Com. And wrath o'erwhelm'd my pity: I request you Com. Cor. By Jupiter, forgot !— I am weary; yea, my memory is tir'd.- Com. Go we to our tent: The blood upon your visage dries: 't is time [Exeunt. SCENE X.-The Camp of the Volces. A flourish. Cornets. Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, bloody, with Two or Three Soldiers. Auf. The town is ta'en! 1 Sol. T will be deliver'd back on good condition. Auf. Condition ?— I would I were a Roman; for I cannot, Being a Volce, be that I am.-Condition! I' the part that is at mercy? Five times, Marcius, If e'er again I meet him beard to beard, (True sword to sword,) I'll potch at him some way; 1 Sol. Auf. Bolder, though not so subtle: My valour's poison'd, With only suffering stain by him; for him |